"Get Out Of Mexico!" Protests Against American Tourists Turn Violent

‘Get Out of Mexico’: Protests in Mexico Against American Tourists Turn Violent Mexico A peaceful protest against gentrification and mass tourism in Mexico City turned violent over the weekend after demonstrators smashed storefronts and harassed visitors in neighborhoods popular among tourists, the Associated Press reported. The protests against mass tourism, which have mostly been seen igniting in Europe, saw demonstrators complaining about the influx of American tourists who have poured into Mexico’s capital, Mexico City, in recent years. In 2020, US “digital nomads” began “escaping” to Mexico City to escape Covid-19 lockdowns and enjoy cheaper rents in the country where salaries are far lower than in the US. The average monthly salary in Mexico City is about $370. This phenomenon, say critics, has caused rent and other living costs to spike for locals, forcing them out of their neighborhoods, especially in areas like Condesa and Roma, now filled with restaurants and cafes. The protesters say it’s a new type of colonialism, according to the New York Times. The protesters also called on local lawmakers to regulate tourism levels and enact stricter housing laws. Then, masked protesters assaulted the areas of Condesa and Roma, where they broke into and looted luxury stores. Graffiti on shattered glass, broken by rocks, read sentences like “Get out of Mexico.” Some officials criticized the violent behavior of the protesters and what they described as the protesters’ nativist bent. Mexico City’s government secretary, César Cravioto, accused the protesters of “xenophobic” behavior and said that Mexico City “is a city of migrants,” insisting that the city’s administration doesn’t agree with “this type of demonstration.” While also condemning the violence, the governor of Mexico City, Carla Brugada, wrote on X that officials are aware of the issues facing local residents and said that her administration was working on providing more affordable housing. Similar protests against mass tourism have repeatedly broken out over the past few years in Europe, especially in Spain, France, and Italy.